Tar Heels middies Tutton and Kelly receive ACC honors

GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina Tar Heels midfielders Chad Tutton and Stephen Kelly received Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, as announced by the conference on Monday.

The fourth-ranked Tar Heels’ 15-14 win over the seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Sunday came about as a result of the shooting performance of Tutton and Kelly’s dominance at the faceoff X.

Tutton matched a career-high with four goals as he helped put together a rally in the second half to propel North Carolina past the Blue Devils at Fetzer Field for the first time since 2003.

The senior midfielder from Courtice, Ontario scored four goals, including three in the fourth quarter, on seven total shots for the day.

With UNC trailing 11-10 entering the fourth quarter, Tutton’s goal with 12 minutes to play put the Tar Heels ahead 12-10, and after Duke tied the game 12-12, Tutton scored back-to-back goals that gave North Carolina the lead for good.

Kelly had the best game of his North Carolina career in winning 22-of-33 faceoffs – one shy of the school record – and helping the Tar Heels dominate off the draw throughout the game.

Kelly also picked up a game-high 10 ground balls that provided North Carolina ample ball possession throughout the second half, and helped the Tar Heels to win only their third game in the last 20 against the Blue Devils.